points. Oklahoma City counters with dynamic individual play fr

The "Chicks Dig the Long Ball" campaign is long dead and buried, but it might be time for a revival this week in Cincinnati. The Reds will host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the opener of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the debut matchup will feature a pair of pitchers whose recent resumes have included a fair number of bases-clearing hits. Watch the game live on TSN2 at 7pm et/4pm pt. Los Angeles veteran Dan Haren has served up seven home runs in his last 24 innings of work over his last four starts, losing three decisions while posting a 4.88 earned run average. Two homers came in six innings of a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Oddly, hed given up just three homers in his first eight starts this season, during which he was 5-1. Hes also allowed 11 long balls in eight games against Cincinnati, a stretch in which hes 3-3 with a 4.95 ERA. In fact, three Cincinnati players -- Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick and Zack Cosart -- have two apiece. Meanwhile, Tony Cingrani gets the start for the Reds amid a four-start losing streak since he returned from a bout with tendinitis in his left shoulder. Hes surrendered seven home runs in 22 2/3 innings in the comeback portion of the season, after having allowed just three round-trippers in 32 1/3 innings to begin the season. Cingrani gave up two homers and three runs overall in a 5 2/3-inning stint against San Francisco on Wednesday. In one career meeting with Los Angeles last July, he tossed seven innings of scoreless ball and struck out 11 in a game that the Reds ultimately lost, 1-0. On Sunday in Colorado, Clayton Kershaw tossed an impressive five innings of one-run ball to guide the Dodgers to a 6-1 victory over the Rockies as the game was called after 5 1/2 innings due to rain. Kershaw allowed just three hits, one being a solo homer, while fanning nine across five innings of work. Hanley Ramirez stroked a solo home run and Matt Kemp went 2-for-2 with a two- run triple for the Dodgers. In Cincinnati, Homer Bailey had an impressive day, firing eight innings of one-run ball and driving in two runs to help the Reds to a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in the rubber match of a three-game set. Bailey (7-3) allowed just six hits and three walks while fanning seven to win his fourth consecutive start. He also hit the go-ahead two-run single in the fifth to support his own cause. Billy Hamilton stroked a two-run home run for the Reds, winners of two straight after a three-game skid. The Dodgers won two of three at home versus the Reds on May 26-28. Rod Brind Amour Jersey . -- With Tony Allen back, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to turn up their defence pressure and hold off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch. Justin Faulk Jersey . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. http://www.hurricanessale.com/ . Ted Ligety, Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller and Tim Jitloff underlined the squads enormous potential on the Rettenbach glacier in Austria. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys .com) - Patrik Elias registered the winner in the shootout as New Jersey nipped Toronto 2-1 at Prudential Center on Wednesday.OKLAHOMA CITY -- When asked about the oldie-but-goodie San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant inquired about Tony Parkers age. "Thirty-two," a reporter answered. "He is old," Durant quipped, drawing laughter. "He doesnt play like hes 32 years old." Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are even older. Duncan just turned 38 and Ginobili is approaching 37. The trio won its first NBA title together in 2003 and fought back Father Time to reach the NBA Finals last year. They will play in their seventh Western Conference finals together, starting with Game 1 Monday night in San Antonio. Durant, the leagues MVP, said theres more to San Antonios success than some mythical fountain of youth. It starts with the genius of Gregg Popovich, the leagues Coach of the Year. "Their system, they plug guys in and out," Durant said. "They always stick to their same system. They get guys who fit. And theyve got a great coach who gets those guys prepared." Even with an aging core and numerous injuries throughout the season, the Spurs finished with the leagues best record. They did it with consistency and teamwork that has continued in the playoffs. San Antonio is shooting 49 per cent from the field as a team in the post-season, with no player averaging 20 points. Oklahoma City counters with dynamic individual play from a pair of 25-year-olds. Durant is averaging 31.4 points and 9.5 rebounds in the playoffs. Russell Westbrook is averaging 26.6 points, 8.4 assists and 8.0 rebounds in post-season play. Westbrook, in particular, has San Antonios attention. While Durants play has been typical, Westbrook has improved significantly as a floor general during the playoffs. "Hes an incredible talent having a great playoff run," Duncan said. "Some incredible numbers. Just an impressive athlete when you try to stay in front of him. His confidence is there." The Thunder will be without Serge Ibaka, who led the league in blocked shots. The mobile, athletic forward injured his left calf in Game 6 of the conference semifinal against the Los Angeles Clippers. "Its hard, but were going to move on," Thunderr centre Kendrick Perkins said.dddddddddddd "Were a very prideful organization and team. Were going to move on." Here are five things to watch in the series: THUNDER DOMINANCE: Oklahoma City won all four regular-season meetings with San Antonio this season, so the Spurs will take nothing for granted, even with Ibaka out. "You never get overconfident in that situation, especially against a team that we havent beat this year," Ginobili said. "We know how talented they are. They can really score in bunches. Very athletic, strong, play good defence. So, no, were not going to get overconfident for sure." IBAKAS REPLACEMENT: Oklahoma City rookie Steven Adams is the most likely to see a spike in minutes. Veteran Nick Collison will play more, too. The Thunder could go with a smaller lineup at times and play Durant as a power forward. Coach Scott Brooks still wouldnt say Sunday who would start in Ibakas place. PARKERS HAMSTRING: San Antonio was likely to have significant help on Westbrook anyway, but Parkers strained left hamstring could be a major problem against Westbrook and Reggie Jackson, two of the most athletic point guards in the league. Parker said Sunday that the hamstring was still tight, but he plans to play. Jackson said the Thunder will test Parker early. LEONARD vs. DURANT: Brooks said Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard is an All-Star in the making. The Spurs feel Leonard is the best equipped player in the league to bother Durant because of his length and energy. "As good as anybody can do it," Ginobili said. "We are lucky to have him. Nobody can guard him (Durant) 1-on-1. Thats been proven -- hes the MVP -- but you can put him in some trouble, and then the team has to respond." SPURS OTHER GUYS: One thing that makes the Spurs dangerous is their depth. Though Parker, Duncan and Ginobili are the best-known players, Leonard, Marco Belinelli, Danny Green, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills all play their roles well and are capable of being difference makers in the right situation. Oklahoma City will need to prevent the other guys from having breakout nights. 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